"Or are you really going to reject the position your family has been grooming you for since the day you were born? Your whole bloodline is politicians, and you' re gonna say it ends with you? Honestly, you keep claiming you don' t like this, don' t like that, but once you step outside to try something else, you get bored just the same. You quit halfway, every time. And out there, you' ve got no power, no clout to throw around. Life' s harder, man. Sure, in the parliament chamber, rich guys with seats are seen as villains to be cursed. But the second they step into a restaurant, a club, a brand counter—no one even dares look them in the eye."
Rome leaned back, sighing. "Pyramid' s got a point, Reya. Sometimes standing out means you need both power and money, bro."
"You know Udom used to work protection detail for members of parliament, right? I dug up some old records—he might' ve even worked for your parents at one point. Didn' t find every detail, but it' s connected. Even a guy everyone praises as 'good' still took on political jobs."
Reya slammed the table. "Wait—you guys are giving in already? It' s only been two months!"
"I' ve got things I need to do. Leaving everything to our parents, letting them drown in all their problems… I can' t. It' s not like I get off on watching the world burn, like I used to say." Pyramid' s tone stayed cool. "I think I can actually help them. Parliament work—it's strategy, it' s maneuvering, more than a game. I want to grow up, Reya. It feels like a real-life game, and honestly... it' s fun as hell."
Reya scowled. "And what about my sweetheart, huh?"
Rome grinned wickedly. "If you' ve got power over him—and over anyone who tries to steal him from you—what the hell is there to fear?"
"Damn. I feel like I' m stuck in kindergarten while you guys are all grown the fuck up." Reya groaned.
"Idiot. Let' s call it a night. Fun' s over."
"Hey, what about me?" Reya barked.
"Your problem, kid. Just keep living off your master. "
"what dog! "
"Then use your imagination." Versaille waved lazily. "Let' s go."
"Don' t leave me! R hardly comes home anymore. I' m lonely. Stay with me, please. He' s always out with that Udom guy, the two of them together all the damn time. Ughhhh!" Reya rolled on the couch, throwing a tantrum.
Versaille blew smoke right in his face. "That lieutenant Udom seems serious, though."
Reya squinted at him like he wanted to strangle the bastard.
Rome smirked, twisting the knife. "Think they' ve done it yet?"
"Rome, shut the fuck up. Reya' s gonna lose it." Pyramid hurled a snack at him.
"I can' t read R, man," Versaille drummed the table. "He' s always friendly, smiling—he' s not just nice to Reya, right?"
"He' s sulking 'cause of you." Rome nudged Reya' s shoulder, laughing—until Reya shot him a death glare.
Rome narrowed his eyes. "Weird you' re not fighting back. The hell' s wrong with you?"
Reya groaned, raking a hand through his hair. "I bend over backwards to be sweet, and what does he want? A fucking bad boy with attitude. Goddamn it." He flicked his cigarette butt into a beer can.
"You' re a mess, man." Pyramid muttered, unimpressed with his cousin' s drama.
Reya' s glare burned. "I won' t give up. While I' m waiting to take that seat, I' m gonna ruin whatever those two have going."
His friends burst into raucous laughter.
Pyramid sneered. "Moron. With shit like this, R still lets you fuck him? What a saint."
Reya puffed out his chest. "My hips don' t lie. That' s why."
"Then what' s there to worry about?" Versaille kicked his shin, smirking.
Reya shot him a look. "You all know my man' s too soft-hearted. He falls for every fake sob story."
Rome doubled over laughing. "True that. If he wasn' t, he never would' ve fallen victim to a rabid mutt like you. Poor bastard, really. Hahaha!"
"You' re really planning to hold out 'til you get sworn in as an MP?" Versaille asked.
Reya clenched his jaw. "Someone needs to distract that bastard. Lure him off." His grin was downright sadistic.
"Lure him? Like, sexually?"
"Fuck yes. He dares flirt with my man—I' ll make sure someone teaches him a lesson."
Rome laughed. "So, who here' s into cops? Volunteer time."
"Pyramid, right? He' s always playing those games with cop uniforms."
"Fuck off!" Pyramid snapped, glaring. "I don' t like screwing men, damn it. My games only have female characters!"
Versaille laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair. "Then dress up as a chick. Spread your legs and let him nail you 'til you' re ruined."
"Yeah, you' d actually pull it off." Rome joined in, cackling.
"If you agree to help Reya, I' ll find you guys wives as a thank-you gift." Versaille raised his glass, only to get kicked from both sides.
Pyramid narrowed his eyes. "Why the fuck should I help? Reya isn' t my dad."
Reya leaned back, sipping his honey green tea like it was beer. His smile was sly. "Not your dad, but I' m your cousin, baby."
"And I' ve got loads of your childhood pics~" Pyramid froze. "What pictures?"
"The ones of you grabbing your dick at five years old." Reya tilted his head, teasing.
"You bastard! I wasn' t jerking off, I was just holding it!" Pyramid' s face went red as the others crowded to see Reya' s phone.
Reya cooed sweetly, eyes sharp. "So? You gonna help me or not? Answer carefully… or I' ll post it on my story."
"Fuck no!" Pyramid barked.
Ding!
The group exploded into laughter.
"HAHA! Pyramid, check Reya' s story! Quick!"
Pyramid snatched his phone. The moment he saw the pic, he nearly shot out of his chair." You motherfucker, Reya! Delete that right now!"
Reya shrugged, grinning like a villain. "So, are you helping me or not? If not… I' ve got a hundred more ready to go viral."
"Goddamn it!!"
Ding!
Another notification popped up. The whole table collapsed in hysterics.
"HAHAHA holy shit, I can' t breathe!"
Pyramid was losing his mind.
"Cut it out already! Reya, STOP! You asshole!!"
Reya chuckled, turning away from his cousin' s furious glare.
"Love you, cuz. Kiss kiss."